yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[G1 Apps and Games] kenkiller:
Same message. "Failure to change permissions of hosts file to root. Error Message"

It worked fine before the latest update....what went wrong?
[G1 Apps and Games] wraithdu:
Here's a logcat of the chown error on 0.4.9 (on my Incredible):

I/System.out( 1484): AdFree: ts=1279079470732, cmd=/system/bin/cat /sdcard/hosts > /system/etc/hosts
D/su ( 1771): 10113 com.bigtincan.android.adfree executing 0 /system/bin/sh
I/System.out( 1484): AdFree: ts=1279079471768, cmd=rm /sdcard/hosts
D/su ( 1779): 10113 com.bigtincan.android.adfree executing 0 /system/bin/sh
I/System.out( 1484): AdFree: ts=1279079472018, cmd=chown root: /system/etc/hosts
D/su ( 1781): 10113 com.bigtincan.android.adfree executing 0 /system/bin/sh
I/System.out( 1484): AdFree: failedmsg=Failed to change permissions of hosts file to root. Error message:

So two things: 1) the hosts update succeeds, 2) AdFree should try to suppress this error so it doesn't show up on devices with locked NAND.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I suppressed all chmod/chown errors, regardless of phone, either it will work or it won't, but isn't as critical.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Changing ownership/modes on files has (almost) nothing to do with memory, it would have failed long before that if it was a memory issue, usually the first time it attempts to get root.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Also does anyone have a comprehensive location that links to rooting various phones?

If the phone can't get root it opens this link:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=442480

However that's G1 specific...
[G1 Apps and Games] hiddenangel:
update error

Failed to replace your host file.

Error message:

I run Adfree on my HTC Hero, ChocolateEclair 1.1r2

I tried to delete the host file and update once again,but the error won't go away.

Now i tried to take away root in superuser.apk, deinstalled and re-installed Adfree...........gives root to it again.........

No update possible, error message like the first lines in my post.
[G1 Apps and Games] wraithdu:
0.4.10 is working well here on my Incredible and Droid. Thanks!
[G1 Apps and Games] kenkiller:
Anyone knows where to get an older version of Adfree that doesn't show the message in this latest update? Makes me regret I updated the version. :(
[G1 Apps and Games] thephantom007:
I'm running cm 5.0.7 with RA for flashing roms, the thing its the app lose root access what's the command to give access to an aplication using Terminal, I think that might fix the problem
[G1 Apps and Games] wraithdu:
Remove the application from the Superuser app and relaunch it. It should prompt you to allow root access again.
[G1 Apps and Games] thephantom007:
The app its not on superuser I look it for it before but its not showing
[G1 Apps and Games] beav_35:
The unlockr has some pretty good how-to root guides for all different phones.

http://theunlockr.com/how-tos/android-how-tos/
[G1 Apps and Games] FlanFlinger:
Works like a charm

Does exactly what it says on the tin on my Kaiser running DZO's Fresh Froyo from NAND & EXT2
[G1 Apps and Games] paul92:
android logo

Hello everybody,

Thank you for this great app !!

I had Adfree on my HTC Desire with DJDroid ROM and it worked perfectly, but after an update (and wipe), I reinstalled Adfree but now, I have a little logo of Android robot in place of advertising.

What do I have to do ?

Bye.

PS : sorry for my bad English...
[G1 Apps and Games] dneill2006:
Can't get this to work on my HTC Desire rooted running latest froyo sense rom.

Comes up with:

Error message:

Failed to replace your host file.
[G1 Apps and Games] ChronoWerX:
+1 for me ... the same problem
[G1 Apps and Games] hanschke:
i have got a problem. my milestone is rooted and with superuser.apk but the check about the host file never ends.
[G1 Apps and Games] ninjafox:
same problem here on my new galaxy s, it worked a few days ago but then I reverted it, because it was blocking my fancy widget weather and also my ign podcast downloads in google listen.

I thought the error is being caused by my new phone, but I asked a friend who has a motorola milestone to try it and he's stuck at the hostfile check too...

is the server down or something?
[G1 Apps and Games] johnbobie:
I am experiencing the same problem on my rooted T-Mobile G1
[G1 Apps and Games] ninjafox:
ok it seems to work again, I guess the server was down and the program doesn't have like a timeout function or error message ;-)
[G1 Apps and Games] marinierb:
I don't understand. I have my hosts file in /system/etc and it has all the entries in it, yet I am seeing ads in my apps and browser. I restored this ROM from a week-old nandroid backup. Ad blocking was working fine before. The only thing I can think of is that the radio was updated before I restored. Could that have anything to do with it?
[G1 Apps and Games] Steebs77:
Delta, I love this app! Thanks very much! I was just going to do adb shell and go into su with my droid x hooked up to my laptop in developer mode.. but you saved me so much time! THANX! 5 *'ing your APP!

I have some constructive advice for the application, whether you would like to make the changes or not is cool. I'm just making suggestions. :)

1.) I know you're probably trying to keep the .apk file size down.. but some direct information from within the application that doesn't require internet/bandwidth usage on what the options are for in AdFree, such as; what are the differences of the options for using 127.0.0.1 or Use BTC IP or Use Custom IP. Benefits / Disadvantages or why you would need to change it. Basically add the info in the menu under HELP instead of pointing to a website... I understand that with version changes there may be more options and such in your app, but you can always amend to it with the version changes. Same with your symlink from /data/data/hosts (it would just make it easier to find related help and take less time, not to mention not use any unnecessary bandwidth usage.

..perhaps some kind of utility within that can sniff new ad IP's if desired since some new ad locations may not be in list? Maybe even add an option that can notify your site of newer ad IP's? Not sure how easy that would be to accomplish. *just brain storming*

-Steebs77

aka

-DangerMouse
[G1 Apps and Games] berardi:
Adfree Worked for a week on my evo running CM 6 then quit. :-( what's going on?
[G1 Apps and Games] Steebs77:
It didn't quit working, the site for the advertises has changed and is not being blocked by your hosts file. Update your AddFree, or manually add it to your Hosts file using ADB to get it from your phone then add the ip of the site that is sending the graphic for the adds you are seeing and push it back onto the phone in its place.

It's just one of those kind of things you'll have to stay on top of if someone else doesn't... or at least report it and which app you are seeing the adds in.

I'm sure there is a sniffer out there that can determine what the IP is of the advertisement site.
[G1 Apps and Games] :
admob - hate it but --

i have an app i don't want to be w/o and while I have edited the host file for anything admob related and adwhirl it's still being blocked? Any ideas? and yes, i did reboot the device a number of times and readded the host file several times in an attempt to figure out what the problem is. and things worked fine yeterday but now it's not. thanks, shasta
[G1 Apps and Games] endolith:
o_O Isn't that what it's supposed to do?

Yeah, the program really should not rely on finding a website before it can run. If you are offline or the website is offline the program cannot be used. Poor design.
[G1 Apps and Games] terribL_T:
I have D Inc. and I get error msg when I try to update host.
[G1 Apps and Games] hroberts89436:
Laputa book reader has ads. How do i figure out the ip they are accessing and who do i send the info to?
[G1 Apps and Games] justnils:
app wetter.com doesnt work withadfree

app wetter.com doesnt work withadfree

It would be awesome if someone could fix that!
[G1 Apps and Games] justnils:
...too bad that nobody can help me out. This was my favorite app...:(
[G1 Apps and Games] Jimmy_Z:
is there any way to include customized hosts entries along with those adfree entries?

government here in China use DNS poisoning/pollution to prevent access to particular sites, so i have to use hosts file to get rid of that, like:

72.14.213.113 encrypted.google.com

it would be nice if you can include a customized host file, like:

# your comments

# localhost

127.0.0.1 localhost

# read from /sdcard/hosts.custom or sth similar

72.14.213.113 encrypted.google.com

# adfree entries

0.0.0.0 ads.com
[G1 Apps and Games] Shaliuno:
Agree.

Ingore list would be great too as "127.0.0.1 yandex.ru" for example is banned. But it is a Russian search engine. Maybe some of its hosts provide ads, I dunno. But I would like it to be in ignore list.
[G1 Apps and Games] ingenious:
Guys, what is the effect of blocking the connection using the hosts file on Android? Can this remove the AdMob UI control from the apps or it simply forbids it to connect to the server to get the ad, thereby having a black AdMob panel there?

The idea of using custom lists is very useful. Wouldn't it be nice if there was an Android app that could automatically download a central hosts file from some internet location, merge it with a custom hosts file the user specifies and update the system hosts file? This will make updates so painless and quick.
[G1 Apps and Games] shrivelfig:
Doesn't block ads in AppBrain App Market version 3.8. I haven't tried v3.9 because it just force closes.
[G1 Apps and Games] klaberte:
Determining add url?

Can the devs give us a quick tutorial on how to determine which URL is being called for an add? Does it require using a PC-based emulator? Can this be done on the phone?
[G1 Apps and Games] someonenewhere:
adfree failed to remount system partition read-only.

does anybody know how to fix this problem????
[G1 Apps and Games] rkanwar:
Hey guys, ive installed this app on xperia x10 and it forces close when i try to download and install the host files. Is it not compatiable?
[G1 Apps and Games] katsuru:
mine says "wait while i determine if your hostes are up to date" and never moves from there i used to use this app without problems..
[G1 Apps and Games] MrCarney:
I am seeing the same behavior as katsuru.

Is it possible that someone has an older APK that might give us a quick work-around?
[G1 Apps and Games] LeoD:
Same here won't give the hosts file.
[G1 Apps and Games] siveZ:
Damn i start app it say that app checking hosts for updates and...just nothing happens! What the?..
[G1 Apps and Games] suriya83:
until couple of days ago it worked well for me. then i made a factory reset and reinstalled adfree and now i have the same problem....

maybe its a new release not working or a server? i hope we get it back working soon!

cheers
[G1 Apps and Games] Chatbox:
Mine is stuck at "Please wait while I determine if the local hosts file is up to date" as well. :-(

It was working awhile ago (before my reflash my phone yesterday).
[G1 Apps and Games] Matt_TX:
Me too... I have the same issue. Might be a server thats down. It was working on Friday.
[G1 Apps and Games] eelton:
It's working again now.
[G1 Apps and Games] TheHourHand:
Failed to remount system partition read-only. ???

Error: Failed to remount system partition read-only. :mad:

On Samsung Galaxy S Captivate with Cognition ROM. Help! :confused:
[G1 Apps and Games] Tomdroid:
I tried to install this on a HTC Wildfire but couldn't find it in the market?

So I copied over the apk from my Milestone and installed that one. Install went fine and the app loads as it should, however when trying to update the hosts file, the app was working for about 30 seconds, then prompted an error (with no additional error text) and a couple of moments later, the Wildfire rebooted. This happened 3 times. :confused:

The app still works fine on my Milestone though. :)
[G1 Apps and Games] sfjuocekr:
On my Desire the layout of AdFree is kinda borked.

Will add screenshot in a moment.
[G1 Apps and Games] Reflxxx:
hi delta_foxtrot2,

Works great but the adds in the apps from developer XIMAD are still there, can you please update the app, thanks in advance.
[G1 Apps and Games] parkjam:
Selective adblock

Great app, have been using it on my phone for months. I would love to see something integrated though. I would like to be able to choose the level of blocking. I am fine with most google ads, and don't mind seeing ad words based ads. The biggest reason I use the app is to block intellitxt ads on websites because they suck a$$. I would like to see a hosts file that blocks the annoying crap, while still allowing ads in apps. I actually want those, as they are a great way to support developers who offer great apps for free.
[G1 Apps and Games] dschaper:
@sfjuocekr

Have you checked the tick box for "Compatibility Mode" in the Spare Parts app and rebooting? There's a font glitch that Comp Mode works around...
[G1 Apps and Games] hshah:
What is with the android logo replacing the ads? I don't like it and want it to go away...
[G1 Apps and Games] lordnils:
When i start AdFree it crashes my phone with "signal 11 (SIGSEGV)", it "works" every time but doesn't give any Java-Stacktrace. It seems to be at the time AdFree tries to download the Filterlist-Update because AdFree starts as usual if i uninstall/reinstall it. As soon as i hit "Download" it crashes and when i select to download automatically it crashes on every start of the app.

Though I don't know why it is not crashing every time i boot the phone or every day at random since the Filterlist-Update should happen periodically, shouldn't it?

I attached the logcat output from the moment when I started AdFree until the system starts killing all services...

Greetings,

nils
[G1 Apps and Games] fcbflo:
same here :confused:
[G1 Apps and Games] lordnils:
Hi,

perhaps we can try to figure out something our phones got in common as others dont seem to have this problem? Ill just start listing some things i thought might have something to do with it...

- Motorola Milestone

- 2.1update1

- SHOLS_U2_02.36.0 firmware (exact name: SHOLS_U2_02.36.0_USASHLSMR2VFDEB1B806D.0R_PDS003_USASHLS00VFDE_P035_A035_HWp2a_1FF.sbf)

- rooted with RSDLite (vulnerable_recovery_only_RAMDLD90_78.sbf) and root-update.zip

- Overclocked*

- FLAC-Support*

- JiT-Compiler*

- Memhack*

* done by OpenRecovery SE (http://www.android-hilfe.de/root-ha...nrecovery-second-edition-ehemals-lmf-mod.html)

Apps-related stuff:

- AutorunKiller displays AdFree as running and it gets started on boot

- AutoKiller Memory Optimizer should do memory-settings on boot but doesn't although it is displayed as running too. Perhaps some autorun-mechanism got fcked up?

- Other scheduled Tasks (eg. Titanium Backup) work, though but not all. BatteryFu doesn't startup too.

Anything in common, what do you think?

Greetings,

nils
[G1 Apps and Games] roadrunnersk:
So the issue that I am having is since adfree is blocking ads from the browser, it takes me like five presses of the back button to navigate to the previous webpage. It seems to have to unload every ad on the page I was looking at before it actually navigates back. Any way to fix this? It's really getting annoying... on Droid incredible.

Other than this its an awesome app!
[G1 Apps and Games] Izzysoft:
Except for the reboot, same thing here (also Wildfire). And yes, it is properly rooted (e.g. Titanium Backup runs fine).

If it would work here, I had some feature request :p After reading the TaintDroid study (sorry, but as a new user I cannot link it here), it would be nice to block those dangerous hosts (where those apps "phone home to" and xfer our private data) as well - maybe offering a choice whether to a) block ads, b) block "bad hosts", or c) combine both.
[G1 Apps and Games] Adeiko:
This app has some problem with the new Audiogalay App

http://www.appbrain.com/app/audiogalaxy/com.audiogalaxy

This is the message it shows:

Uninstalling Adfree corrects this.

There is something you can do about it? Thanks!
[G1 Apps and Games] iTouch24:
This doesn't seem to help with appbrain.
[G1 Apps and Games] jimmyz:
I would love this as I have too add a couple of custom lines to the host file manually.

Another question- on the epic 4g /system is mounted read/write- its probably not important but it looks like adfree remounts the system read only- is there a way to change this behavior??
[G1 Apps and Games] klement.sekera:
Hi,

I'm trying out the adfree app, but I get an error saying failed to replace yoru hosts file with empty error message. I can see that the hosts file is downloaded to the sdcard correctly. Runnig opendesire 4...36
[G1 Apps and Games] JoonatanO:
This is great, but I won't be using it.

I'm annoyed by ads, but you need to remember, they're there only to help the person maintaining the web page. Same thing with ads on Android apps.
[G1 Apps and Games] peachpuff:
For some reason i get this green little android in place of the ad's after copying the hosts file, anyway to get rid of it? This is on a samsung captivate.
[G1 Apps and Games] nawoa:
Nice attitude the developer has.
[G1 Apps and Games] endolith:
I agree with the developer
[G1 Apps and Games] nawoa:
I wonder if XDA appreciates me blocking the ads in their own app...

-----

HTC Desire (SLCD) S-OFF / Cyanogenmod
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Wow, half the comments on the Market about app are complete whiners and people wonder why free apps are disappearing from the Market, maybe it's to stop the irrelevant comments.

In any case new version up that allows you to easily revert your hosts file to just have localhost.
[G1 Apps and Games] nyayo99:
Great job! Thanks!
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
If you want extra URLs added you'll need to report them to the guy from mvps.org, the app doesn't store the list but downloads it on request.

Visit http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm for more information etc.
[G1 Apps and Games] shaneaus:
AWESOME AP! Thank you!

Don't listen to the whiners! They are just too ignorant (ignorant - lack of knowledge - not an insult, necessarily) to know any better!

Thanks for making this app and helping out. It isn't only the major ROM cookers who make xda-dev such a great resource. It is also people like you who make really great apps that others didn't think of or don't know how to make!
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I'm just wondering how many devs added a 99c price tag just to shut the idiots up though, same old thing a small few ruining it for the rest of us.
[G1 Apps and Games] mannyb:
Good job mate, I'm loving this. Even though "host edits" is a "primitive" way of blocking ads, it's the best we've got at the moment.

And I agree, I think the Market whiners are reason many developers decide to "go paid", I can definitely understand the reasoning. It just sucks for people outside the handful paid app enabled countries.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I'm not sure it's that primitive though, doing it at the OS level, which is written in C, should (in theory) be a lot faster than adding extra java code to do the same thing. The down side of course is you need root.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
New version up, instead of using wget from the command line to download the hosts file it pulls it in itself and then just moves it on the command line, hopefully those running stock ADP1.5 won't have any more problems now, but without a little more help/feedback from those having problems I'm guessing and they're whining about it not working etc.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
According to comments on the Market, some people think and icon/polish would be good, but since this app is mostly single use, or redundent if the hosts file gets packaged in some of the builds I doubt polishing up the interface would be of much use.

Although it could probably do with a better icon and since I suck at graphics would anyone care to donate something or know of a decent one that is royality free etc?
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Also for anyone running ADP 1.5 (I assume the google build) that is failing can you try and do these steps manually, either via 'adb shell' or using the terminal app:

mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
wget -O /sdcard/hosts http://209.68.48.119/winhelp2002/hosts.txt
cp /sdcard/hosts /system/etc/hosts
rm /sdcard/hosts
mount -o remount,ro /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
[G1 Apps and Games] mannyb:
I think I worded it poorly, and just to clarify; it was in no way meant to diminish the work you do with AdFree. I do love this app.

What I meant was rather that host file blocks are rather blunt, as you block on a per domain basis, not on a per image/element basis, like Adblock Plus for Firefox.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I knew you weren't talking about the app, however....

Yea but regex filtering is expensive in terms of CPU, and on small devices which you are trying to get the most battery life from as well I still tend to think this is the better option.
[G1 Apps and Games] mannyb:
Will this one do?
[G1 Apps and Games] mannyb:
That is a very good point. I'm sure there will be Adblock Plus like apps for Android sooner or later, but the CPU/battery issue is definitely a concern.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Looks great, will update the binary to include it...
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I wonder if google is going to allow/code for plugins in the browser, because no matter how slow java code is, if they do it in the same way as firefox with javascript it will chew even more battery/CPU which would possibly slow browsing down, while it chews through the URL list etc.

I still think in this case blocking by hosts file is the best option, desktop computers on the other hand run mostly idle so it doesn't matter as much.
[G1 Apps and Games] gurugabe:
adfree updates

How often is the hosts file updated? Why can I get it to work through terminal, but when I update hosts file through app it cannot replace hosts file. Doesn't appear to work on all ads just yet, but I'm sure it will soon.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
You need to report any URIs for ads to the guy that owns the link on the first post.

The more linkls reported etc the less ads you'll see.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Someone sent in a request to update the hosts file rather than replace it, but they followed up by saying could the hosts file from http://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/serverlist.php?showintro=0;hostformat=hosts be used as well.

I'll release an update shortly that takes advantage of both lists, about 17,100 URLs in total.
[G1 Apps and Games] lyingit:
I just updated to your latest, and I'm getting a 'failed to remount system partition read-write' error.

Have root, running jf's 1.5
[G1 Apps and Games] iTouch24:
on xda app i get the continued loading circle on the bottom .. i guess thats the block ...???

this doesnt seem to work on the appbrain application
[G1 Apps and Games] metalchef:
It used to work/update. Latest version says, "failed to remount system partition read/write"

When I try to update host files. Symlink option doesn't work either.

Rooted Motorola XT701 eclair 2.1-1
[G1 Apps and Games] MilkPudding:
This is so awesome.

THE best thing that has happened to mobile phone since Android was invented.
[G1 Apps and Games] andrewsoong:
Any chance pheedo stuff can be removed as ign use it for podcasts so it messes up with Listen.
[G1 Apps and Games] RashaMatt:
How to suggest additions?

Thanks for the ad-free goodness!

I have a couple apps that are still serving ads, and I'd like to add these unknown servers to your list, but I don't know how to discover where the ads are being fetched from.

Any suggestions?

Peace,

Rasha

____________________

Nexus One, AT&T, CyanogenMod 6.0
[G1 Apps and Games] a1m:
Doesn't work with my HTC Desire, tried some of the manual methods just got 'not enough memory' otherwise, it gives me a blank error upon attempting to update;

"Failed to replace your host file. Error message: "

Any ideas?

EDIT: Forgot to say running CM6.1
[G1 Apps and Games] :
Same here, I'm running CM6.1 RC2 for Wildfire :(

Hope to get it fixed, I'm allergic to ads :p

(may be a problem with CM too of course)